Pulsed electric fields and meat processing: latest updates

Pulsed electric fields (PEF) is a non-thermal technology that is still looking for implementation on a larger scale by the meat industry. Its sustainability dimension, which is much improved by lowering energy consumption and shortening treatment times compared to conventional technologies, may tip the scale for successfully shifting the PEF technology readiness level to industrial application. This review provides an overview of the latest knowledge, and in the last three years, on using PEF processing in meat to enhance its functionality, nutrition, texture, colour and sensory quality. PEF treatment could improve meat’s protein digestibility and solubility while having no negative impact on its nutritional value. However, controversial indications regarding PEF’s effect on meat cooking loss are reported. Colour changes of meat after PEF treatment are directly proportional to the extent of total specific energy inputs used in the processing, while the effect of PEF on meat sensory properties is yet to be discovered. Since the ability of PEF to achieve its desired goals is dependent on many different factors, including the type of meat, electric field strength, number and duration of electric pulses, and others, more studies are needed to fully understand specific conditions that can be dependably applied in the meat industry.Highlightspulsed electric fields improve functional quality of meatpulsed electric fields do not negatively affect nutritional quality of meatpulsed electric fields sustainability research in meat industry is hugely missin

Influence of Protein Type on the Antimicrobial Activity of LAE Alone or in Combination with Methylparaben

The cationic surfactant Lauric arginate (LAE) has gained approval for utilization in meat products (limit: 200 mg/kg). However, as for other antimicrobials, its activity is reduced when applied to complex food matrices. The current study therefore aims to better understand protein-antimicrobial agent-interactions and their influence on the antimicrobial activity of (i) LAE and (ii) methylparaben against Listeria innocua and Pseudomonas fluorescens in defined model systems (pH 6). Antimicrobials were utilized alone or in combination with nutrient broth containing either no protein or 2% bovine serum albumin, whey protein isolate, or soy protein hydrolysate. LAE was found to form complexes with all proteins due to electrostatic attraction, determined using microelectrophoretic and turbidity measurements. Minimal lethal concentrations of LAE were remarkably increased (4–13 fold) in the presence of proteins, with globular proteins having the strongest impact. Combinations of LAE (0–200 µg/mL) with the less structure-sensitive component methylparaben (approved concentration 0.1%) remarkably decreased the concentrations of LAE needed to strongly inhibit or even kill both, L. innocua and P. fluorescens in the presence of proteins. The study highlights the importance of ingredient interactions impacting microbial activity that are often not taken into account when examining antimicrobial components having different structure sensitivitie

Life cycle assessment of hemp-based milk alternative production in Lower Saxony, Germany, based on a material flow analysis of a pilot scale

Purpose: Recently, demand for plant-based milk products (PBMP) has increased for multiple reasons, such as the rapid population growth expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, health concerns such as lactose intolerance, nutritional aspects, ethical reasons, and environmental concerns. This leads to increased demand for food and competition for natural resources. Hemp-based milk is an emerging dairy alternative, and stakeholders in the supply chain are becoming increasingly interested in learning about the environmental effects of its production. This article aims for a comparative life cycle assessment of hemp-based and bovine milk with fat and protein correction to account for the differences in macronutrient content. Methods: The cradle-to-factory gate LCA relied on experimental cultivation and milk production in Lower Saxony, Germany. Inventory was based on primary data from fields and the pilot plant of DIL e. V. and on literature and ecoinvent database to develop a life cycle assessment (LCA) model. The LCA was performed using Simapro 9.3 software and IMPACT 2002+ impact assessment method. The life cycle stages include cultivation, harvesting, and milk production. The study compared hemp-based milk to bovine milk based on 1 kg fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) as a functional unit (FU). Co-products are taken into consideration using mass-economic allocation. Results: The results showed that hemp cultivation accounted for the highest impact (99%) in the production chain of hemp milk production. The GWP of 1 kg of FPCM hemp-based milk is 0.42 kg CO2 eq. The energy consumption for 1 kg of FPCM hemp-based milk is 4.73 MJ (12.26% lower than bovine milk). The other main factors impacting hemp-based milk production were terrestrial ecotoxicity (6.444E2 kg TEG soil) and aquatic ecotoxicity (2.458E2 kg TEG water). Hemp fiber was the co-product with 40% of the allocated impacts. The results are sensitive to the changes in fat-protein contents, functional unit, and system boundaries. The results demonstrated that the impacts of hemp milk production were within the range indicated for other PBMP production and 51.7% lower than bovine milk production in terms of GWP. This range primarily stems from field emissions, fertilizer application, and machinery usage during cultivation and harvest. Conclusion: The results of the comparisons of bovine milk and hemp-based milk were dependable on the FU. The hemp-based milk has the potential to be a more sustainable alternative to bovine milk due to considerably lower impacts in impact categories—land occupation (99% lower than bovine milk), global warming (52% lower than bovine milk), and ionizing radiation (23% lower than bovine milk). It is primarily due to less use of agricultural machinery, less land requirement, and lower NH3 emissions than bovine milk in various stages of milk production.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

What is meat in Serbia?

Ensuring meat safety is a significant concern in Serbia, as in any country. To address this issue, the Serbian government has implemented several measures, including regular inspections of slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities and adhering to EU regulations on meat safety. These regulations stipulate that all meat products must meet stringent hygiene, storage, and labeling standards. In addition, consumers are advised to buy meat products only from trustworthy sources to safeguard their health. While the issue of meat safety in Serbia remains a concern, the government and consumers are taking steps to mitigate the risks associated with consuming meat products. Serbia’s meat processing industry focuses on developing new, healthier products with “clean label” formulations and innovative packaging films. However, the welfare of animals during the slaughtering process has been a topic of concern among animal rights organizations. Although regulations exist to ensure the humane treatment of animals during the slaughtering process, enforcing these regulations has been criticized as inadequate. Efforts are being made to educate and enforce humane treatment, but much more work is needed to ensure that animals are treated with dignity and respect. From a research perspective, it is evident that the Serbian meat sector significantly impacts natural resources, especially water, and energy. The industry also pollutes the environment through wastewater discharge and contributes to climate change in terms of global warming, acidification, and eutrophication. Future research should focus on finding ways to minimize the environmental impact of the meat value chain

Bacteriobiota and Chemical Changes during the Ripening of Traditional Fermented “Pirot ‘Ironed’ Sausage”

“Pirot ‘ironed’ sausage“ (Pis) is a traditional, fermented sausage, made from different types of meat (beef and chevon), without additives or starter cultures. The physical–chemical properties (pH, water activity, fats, moisture, and protein contents) were examined in the initial meat batter stuffing and during ripening. Total bacterial diversity was examined at different time points using both culturable (traditional) and non-culturable (NGS sequencing) approaches. During the ripening, a decrease in pH value, aw, and moisture content was observed, as well as an increase in protein and fat content. At least a two-fold significant decrease was noted for colorimetric values during the ripening period. The dominance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes was observed in the non-culturable approach in all studied samples. During the ripening process, an increase in Firmicutes (from 33.5% to 63.5%) with a decrease in Proteobacteria (from 65.4% to 22.3%) was observed. The bacterial genera that were dominant throughout the ripening process were Lactobacillus, Photobacterium, Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Lactococcus, while Carnobacterium, Brochothrix, and Acinetobacter were found also, but in negligible abundance. Among the culturable bacteria, Latilactobacillus sakei (Lactobacillus sakei) and Leuconostoc mesenteoides were present in all stages of ripening. © 2023 by the authors

Preliminary Test of the Reduction Capacity for the Intestinal Adsorption of Skatole and Indole in Weaning Piglets by Pure and Coated Charcoal

To reduce the risk of boar taint, intact male piglets are immuno‐ or surgically castrated. One alternative is reducing skatole by adding skatole reducing or adsorbing substances to the boars’ diet. Charcoal with a high capacity for adsorbing skatole and indole in vitro (tested before, data not shown) was fed to the boars to test the hypothesis that a fat coating prevents the unspecific adsorption of charcoal before entry into the large intestine while increasing skatole adsorption. Twelve male and six female weaning piglets with initial body weights of 7.74 ± 0.75 kg were fed for 18 (or 19) days with either 2% pure (untreated) charcoal or 4% coated (50% charcoal + 50% fat‐coating) charcoal or no charcoal. After euthanasia, skatole and indole were quantified in caecum and colon chyme. Skatole and indole contents in caecum chyme were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the group fed with coated charcoal (33 ± 4.2, 7 ± 2.8 μg/gDM, respectively) than in the group fed with pure charcoal (51 ± 7.3, 14 ± 3.0 μg/gDM) or with no charcoal (73 ± 12.6, 15 ± 1.7 μg/gDM). Similar effects were obvious for colon chyme. The results indicate that a fat coating of charcoal might prevent unspecific adsorption in the small intestine and might consequently lead to a higher adsorption capacity for skatole and indole in the large intestine, as skatole and indole concentrations in the chyme of caecum and colon were approximately 50% lower in the piglets who received coated charcoal

Quality and Oral Processing Characteristics of Traditional Serbian Ćevap Influenced by Game Meat

This study analyzes the influence of two different types of game meat (deer and wild boar) in relation to quality characteristics and oral processing attributes of skinless sausage. The goal of this study was to compare grilled game-meat-based “ćevap” with conventional pork-meat-based samples. Research comprised of color analysis, evaluation of textural components, testing degree of difference, temporal dominance of sensations, calculation of main oral processing attributes, and examination of particle size distribution. The results show that oral processing attributes are similar in between samples and concur with results of the pork-based sample. This confirms the working hypothesis that it is possible to make game-meat-based “ćevap” fully comparable with conventional pork meat products. In parallel, color and flavor characteristics are influenced by the type of game meat in the sample. Most of the dominant sensory attributes that occurred during mastication were game meat flavor and juiciness. © 2023 by the authors

Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues in the age of COVID ‐19: evidence from an online survey in 15 countries

Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues in the age of COVID ‐19: evidence from an online survey in 15 countries Igor Tomasevic Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) Quakenbrück Germany Department of Dairy Technology and Functional Foods, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology University of Life Sciences in Lublin Lublin Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1611-2264 Garegin Hambardzumyan Armenian National Agrarian University Yerevan Armenia Gayane Marmaryan Armenian National Agrarian University Yerevan Armenia Aleksandra Nikolic Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Alen Mujcinovic Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Weizheng Sun School of Food Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5769-4275 Xiao‐Chen Liu School of Food Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China Danijela Bursać Kovačević Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia Anica Bebek Markovinović Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia Nino Terjung German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) Quakenbrück Germany Volker Heinz German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) Quakenbrück Germany Maria Papageorgiou Department of Food Science and Technology International Hellenic University Thessaloniki Greece Adriana Skendi Department of Food Science and Technology International Hellenic University Thessaloniki Greece Gunjan Goel Department of Microbiology Central University of Haryana Mahendragarh India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8761-929X Mamta Raghav Department of Life Sciences RPS Degree College Mahendragarh India Antonella Dalle Zotte Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health University of Padova Padova Italy Dimitar Nakov Faculty of Agriculture "Goce Delcev" University in Stip Shtip Republic of North Macedonia Faculty of Medical Sciences "Goce Delcev" University in Stip Shtip Republic of North Macedonia Valentina Velkoska Faculty of Agriculture "Goce Delcev" University in Stip Shtip Republic of North Macedonia Bartosz G. Sołowiej Department of Dairy Technology and Functional Foods, Faculty of Food Sciences and Biotechnology University of Life Sciences in Lublin Lublin Poland Anastasia A. Semenova V. M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems Moscow Russia Oksana A. Kuznetsova V. M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems Moscow Russia Miroslav Krocko Department of Technology and Quality of Animal Products, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences Institute of Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Nitra Slovakia Viera Duckova Department of Technology and Quality of Animal Products, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences Institute of Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Nitra Slovakia Jose M. Lorenzo Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia Ourense Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7725-9294 Noemi Echegaray Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia Ourense Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7393-2955 Emel Oz Department of Food Engineering, Agriculture Faculty Atatürk University Erzurum Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3766-2713 Fatih Oz Department of Food Engineering, Agriculture Faculty Atatürk University Erzurum Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5300-7519 Ilija Djekic Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia Abstract BACKGROUND This investigation provides an important insight into Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues influenced by the COVID‐19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in 15 European and Asian countries involving more than 4000 consumers. RESULTS It has confirmed that different socioeconomic characteristics, cultural aspects and education levels shape food safety perceptions within Eurasian countries. The COVID‐19 pandemic influenced their beliefs and trust in food safety, which is relatively low on average. However, it is significantly higher for European consumers (especially European Union ones) compared to their Asian counterparts. Both Asian and European respondents agreed that food fraud and climate changes represent a food safety issue. However, European consumers were less concerned regarding the food safety of genetically modified foods and meat and dairy analogs/hybrids. Asian consumers were, to a greater extent, worried about the risk of getting COVID‐19 from food, restaurants, food retail establishments and home food deliveries. CONCLUSION Eurasian consumers have put their greatest extent of trust, when food safety assurance is concerned, into food scientists and food producers holding a food safety certificate. Broadly, they are uncertain to what extent their federal governments and food inspectors are competent, able and efficient in ensuring food safety. Higher education of Eurasian consumers was followed by increased food safety confidence in all parts of the food chain. © 2023 The Authors. 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Influence of extrudate to SPI-gel-binder ratios and transglutaminase crosslinking on texture of a plant-based salami analogue

A plant-based salami-type sausage analogue was manufactured with a glucono-δ-lactone- or transglutaminase+glucono- δ -lactone-induced soy protein isolate-gel as binder to hold together fat mimetic particles and extruded proteins with fibrous structure to resemble the structure of classical dry-fermented sausages. The objective was to study the influence of the binder content on the texture of this complex meat analogues. The sausage analogues were processed similarly to traditional sausages. Texture, sensory and composition were analyzed. The hardness of dry-fermented sausages was found to decrease with increasing binder content (e.g. at 45% dry matter from ∼ 110 N to ∼ 80 N), whereas the cohesiveness increased with increasing binder content (e.g. at 45% dry matter from ∼ 0.21 to ∼ 0.41). Results from sensory and texture analysis correlated well and showed that both a high firmness and cohesiveness could not be reached in a single formulation. Furthermore, the addition of transglutaminase slightly increased firmness and cohesiveness, however, drying of sausages had a significantly higher impact on increasing hardness. These results indicate that, at lower binder contents, the structure is dominated by the extrudate particles, leading to an increased firmness but a lack of cohesiveness, whereas higher binder contents increased the cohesiveness but decreased hardness

Evaluation of Coated Biochar as an Intestinal Binding Agent for Skatole and Indole in Male Intact Finishing Pigs

The ban on piglet castration without anaesthesia poses a challenge for the meat industry since alternatives ensuring the production of flawless pork have to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar on skatole and indole concentration in faeces and plasma on a small scale in finishing boars to prove whether biochar was suitable for use in commercial pork production. Moreover, it was investigated whether biochar affects faecal properties or the performance. For a four-week trial period, 54 boars (bodyweight 97.2 ± 6.88 kg) were divided into three groups. The control (BC0) received no dietary biochar, one group received a diet containing 4% coated biochar (corresponding to 2% pure biochar) for the final two experimental weeks (BC2), and another group for the entire four weeks (BC4), respectively, prior to slaughter. Skatole and indole concentrations were measured in faeces and plasma at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the trial. Mean skatole concentrations did not differ between groups, but in BC2 faecal skatole was significantly decreased at day 26, whereas in BC4 initial and final faecal skatole levels did not differ. At day 15 and 26, the faecal dry matter content was significantly higher in pigs fed the biochar diet (p &lt; 0.05)